120 parties apply to contest Nepal's parliament election

KATHMANDU, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- As many as 120 political parties are aspiring to contest Nepal's House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, according to the Election Commission of Nepal.

Out of 143 registered parties, 120 have applied to take part in the polls, which will elect 275 members to the lower house.

"The number might change slightly after final verification, which will be completed within a week," Yagya Bhattarai, a joint secretary at the commission, told Xinhua on Sunday. He added that about one-third of the parties participating in the elections are new.

The elections are being held after KP Sharma Oli stepped down as prime minister on Sept. 9 over deadly protests in Kathmandu and other parts of the country. Enditem